Sonia Fueredi

Sonia Fueredi is a proud naturalized US citizen, born in Costa Rica. She immigrated with her family at the age of 15. After completing high school in Florida, Sonia earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. After working for a small firm in Maryland for a couple of years, Sonia relocated to Southwest Florida and completed her internship at Lee County and Dyehouse & Geshay Architects, where she worked on a range of projects from public works to high-end residential in the Naples area.

In 1995 Sonia earned her Master of Architecture degree at the University of South Florida after writing
and presenting her thesis: “A New International Airport for Costa Rica”. Her thesis explored the impact
of space and behavior on travelers, and the importance of the vernacular in airport architecture and
interior design. She researched the issues that make an airport successful; the flow of people, goods
and information at the building level, as well as the aircraft and other vehicles at the site level. She sought to create a transportation hub to streamline transit from rail, car, ships and planes into a very busy tourist and business destination. In her thesis Sonia was concerned with celebrating people and place versus machine, and setting a calming stage for nervous travelers.

After marrying fellow architect John Fueredi, Sonia relocated to the Atlanta area. In 1996 Sonia started work in the Club Safety & Design department of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a federation of youth-service clubs over 3,000 strong in the US and overseas. For the next 11 years she researched youth environments, wrote, lectured, and designed spaces which optimize children’s and youth experiences at these youth centers. Twice she traveled to Germany to teach on US military bases about optimizing spaces for youth and she co-wrote award winning website “Kidbuilding.org”, a resource for Clubs planning to build or renovate and to act as a design conversation starter. She visited sites in over 35 States including Puerto Rico and across the border in Mexico.

As part of her research, Sonia was invited to travel to Cornell University to critique several projects in the Interior Design/Human Ecology disciplines. This collaboration informed BGCA’s design approach in
significant ways. The Club Safety & Design department became the go-to place for design prototypes,
critiques, furniture selection and finishes recommendations. The small staff handled over 1,000 requests per year for information and feedback ranging from pre-printed information to in-depth conversations about proposed designs and site visits.

Other unique opportunities were the design of Club prototypes for the Navajo Nation, which reflected
their rich culture and traditions. This project was a collaboration with Dr. Serrato and was very well-
received. Sonia also directed and co-wrote resources for the Department of Defense’s Morale Welfare
& Recreation group: A CD-based training called “Kidspaces” and a Learning Center Resource
“MyLearningCenter.org” for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

While at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Sonia was also charged with design and oversight of Interior Design, selection and procurement of FF&E for all corporate offices in five US regions.

In 2007 Sonia worked on several projects with different firms: the COSI (Center of Science & Industry) Children’s Museum Food Court in Columbus, Ohio, hospitality projects for Marriott, corporate offices and residential projects. In the Fall of 2008 she started teaching at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in the Atlanta campus as Adjunct Professor. She taught undergraduate and graduate CAD classes and a design studio there until 2012. In the Spring of 2011 Sonia joined the Interior Design faculty at Brenau University.

Sonia leads Sonia Fueredi Design, LLC, a firm currently engaged in renovating several Boys & Girls Clubs sites in the Atlanta area. She was recently asked to critique a new site planned for Mexico and she also continues to work on small residential projects, which she considers precious because they are havens to her clients. All of her work has at its core the best interest of the user and she strives to deliver projects that respond to program and exceed her clients’ vision.

Sonia and John have three children, one dog and live in the Decatur area. In her spare time, she enjoys
reading, crocheting, and cooking for family and friends.